Can I join the rant?… NM

Wednesday, May 6th, 2020

“You never really know what’s coming. A small wave, or maybe a big one. All you can really do is hope that when it comes, you can surf over it, instead of drown in its monstrosity.” 
~ Alysha Speer ~

Organ Mountains 2

I look up the definition of “rant” and the word that stands out is “vociferation”. It sounds loud! Sounds like screaming. I am not. I don’t think “joining the rant” on my end is a proper expression as I feel it and yet will not and do not respond as such. What would be the sense? Am I a Doctor? A Scientist?… or even a Politician? Lucky me I am not on the later or either. Smile.

 Organ Mountains 3

Months have passed by and we are witnessing, living, a period which will go down in History for sure. I always, aimlessly, idiotically I must say, throw in a “wow”! As short of a three letter word it is, this little guy truly means a lot. It expresses everything we can throw at a stage we witness. It says it all. It not so eloquent, too intelligent, but expressive if one gets into the depth of the reasons it is exclaimed.

Kitchen B

These days, though always has been, busy in the kitchen.

I must say that all is well on this front. My Life has truly not changed much. My pivotal direction has always been the Mountains and while many gates are locked, there are still many paths open and with the company of a chair, a book, some food to munch on, the view of Alamogordo from “up there” combined with the freshness and cleanliness of the air at 9400 feet is always a welcome time. The only aspect that has changed is doing grocery pick up at our wonderful little neighborhood Walmart instead of going in the store. They are doing such a wonderful job and always surprised at the freshness of the produce they pick.

Easter Dinner 

So that is that. As the expression goes, “I saw this coming” the first week of January when weekly I glance at the news headlines, honestly not ever reading them in depth. I just knew. I was taught History which spanned from day one until that present time when I was still in school in France. We never got too comfortable living coming out of a turmoiled past, as we do today with an imaginary shield which wrongly so to the popular belief think it protects us from what Life throws in our direction over and over.

Kitchen

Today is plainly History repeating itself. It is really that simple and if not, all the Historians throughout the Centuries have been wrong. Which I doubt very much. The numbers says it all. Friends talk about it. I notice they are on edge, grumpy, and rightly so, worried. Their thoughts are flashing right and left, up and down annihilated by the myriads of news thrown at them. Yet, when asked for my opinion, it is a bland one replying “honestly, I don’t know because no one truly knows”.

Spices

The mainstream of my own thoughts however, while it is a stream I at the present more often than not set aside throughout my nights and days, is my disappointment of Society’s handling of it all. To the point of being stupefied. I go back to my own beginnings of these few decades lived and realize the fact that I have never been confronted by such Society as much as I am today. Born and raised in France. Too busy as a teenager with School and fun, and too often getting into some pleasant trouble. And on regularly living with my Grand Parents in Cairo [Egypt] and Kampala [Uganda], youth had its own path while throughout the last years in Culinary School in Switzerland. United States then welcomed me and it was “work, work… work”. My Journey with Spirit found me more than ever wrapped into my own bubble trying to emerge from the grief of losing Lance.

Breakfast

And then again, only three years ago, all changed into a new stage seemingly upside down from the previous one. A one hundred and eighty degree turn. Surgeries, losing again while Spirit passes, a house, no more the ability to ride a motorcycle and camp, not even hiking for too long. Too busy embracing it all I was never one to stay up with the current news and my own Social Media was only my personal circle born from the communicating back and forth of our here present Journal.

sunsrise

As a grenade thrown with its pin removed, this Life then exploded just a few months ago and my curiosity of others thoughts entered my days. I don’t know how to express my disappointment. I am aware that negativity travels much faster than positivity. I am aware that they are myriads of good people out there. Heroes throughout these present times and yet, the greed, the back stabbing, the insults, the games, the angers, the right and left and centered politics and so much more, all saddens me while asking myself the question”is this humanity?”.

Salad

It is unfortunately, as going back to my History books, just as these threatened physical times, again and again, it is History repeating itself. One more time and will again in times to come. It is our frame which will unfortunately remain unchanged as… we have not changed. We just have not, while the “good” tries so hard to float on this turmoiled Ocean stroke by stroke trying to make headwaves. And still tries… I scream this time “can we just for this one time, just once, unite and set aside all the downfalls which fill the ones too many present?”. Just for once. I am a positive person, yet I know it is not going to happen and we will one way or another pay the price. Sadly so.

Dinner for one

In the meantime, stay safe out there, this is real… as much as you can hear that it is not.

And “Stay Well”

Ara and Spirit

[Spirit, R.I.P. 04~04~2018]   

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17 Responses to “Can I join the rant?… NM”

  1. Kelly Florence Says:

    Nice to hear from you. I worry so much for my children. Their lives will never be the same. I am at the other end of life they are not.
    “When despair for the world grows in me
    and I wake in the night at the least sound
    in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
    I go and lie down where the wood drake
    rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
    I come into the peace of wild things
    who do not tax their lives with forethought
    of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
    And I feel above me the day-blind stars
    waiting with their light. For a time
    I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.”
    Wendell Berry

  2. Melanie M Kramme Says:

    Ara,

    It is wonderful to see a posting from you, I have always look forward to them. Your pictures of the food you have shared in the post (and the wonderful preparations) are as beautiful as the pictures of nature that we have seen over the past years. Yes indeed, it is hard to not travel to far but nice to see others grateful for what we can have and do now. Such things like curbside service and time to be creative in the kitchen. Seeing that you have found solace close by in nature enjoying books, I agree is special during this time. Take care!

  3. Ara & Spirit Says:

    Thank You Melanie. One shall never take for granted what we have… My memories of Africa still linger as I was picking up some produce today and felt “what a luxury” when even water was not available. We are so comfortable here in this country! This too shall pass… Stay well. Hugs. Ara

  4. Ara & Spirit Says:

    Kelly! , as they say, feel you…
    What I am about to say, please do not take it the wrong way as I don’t know any other way to say it. “I am glad I do not have Children and Grand Children…”. I of course wish I did, a dozen children!!! How happy I would have been as Lance’s passing away scar will never heal. But I think you know what I mean… I don’t know, no one know truly, what the future holds. Since the year 0 all has already been so uncertain. My History Books in School were thick and interesting of course. To me anyhow. But today’s History and nothing new when going back to past Centuries. So some will make it, some won’t obviously and there are still scenarios we are not aware of which could take place… So yes, I feel your thoughts. Stay in touch, thank you for writing… Love the Poem… Hugs, Ara

  5. RichardM Says:

    We just stayed at Alamogordo a couple of days ago. And very nice looking dishes!

  6. heyduke50 Says:

    Our present is merely a reflection of time past… as you say it too shall pass and hopefully we as a society will be better that we were before this event.

  7. Mike Says:

    Hello Ara,
    Good to hear from you again and it’s always a joy to see your photography. These are indeed interesting times. One way or another they’ll pass and the world will find again equilibrium. We can be kind, be generous, be forgiving. Really, isn’t it always better to be that way?
    Mike

  8. Ara & Spirit Says:

    Of course it is Mike. Why turn around and fill ourselves and others with negativity? “That” will get us nowhere. Yes, this too shall pass. History has proven it. One way or another. Stay well and hang in there. Ara

  9. Ara & Spirit Says:

    I think it will be. As much as “negativity” is thrown at us, something I do not follow for sure, people are realizing positive aspects which were forgotten. Stay well. Ara

  10. Ara & Spirit Says:

    I did read what you wrote! Wish it would have been throughout better “open” times. There is so much to explore up those Mountains where I go a couple times a week. Safe Journey and you all stay well. Ara

  11. Chris Says:

    Ara,
    glad to see your photos & words again.
    This is a big wave. Probably part of a large set rolling in….
    So we ride up the face of the big wave. Some come out the other side, some are consumed by the wave never to see the sun again.
    I, like you, see history repeating, and my outlook has turned bleak.
    History will repeat as many times as it takes for “us” to learn the lessons.
    I’m disappointed in humanity because I’m an optimist.
    I expect better, but I’m disappointed over and over. Yet, I keep hoping that this time it will be different…

  12. Ara & Spirit Says:

    Chris… I concur with you.
    As truly, at 72, I am for the first time faced by Society, I am also filled disappointment. Such reflection is contained on the path of Social Media which I have to avoid. What is the sense for me anyhow? I have to float above it all while knowing too well I have much less to live than I have lived. “Bleak Outlook”? I try not to see it that way and yet, it is sad, hurtful, painful. All is so tumultuous. I ride it one day at the time…
    Stay well… feel free to email me. I do like an intelligent conversation! Ara

  13. Judith Says:

    So very glad to see you back on this site….I just kept checking, and today, here you were! And I am pleased. At present, I find humanity as usual a mixed bag, people being at their best and being at their worst. So here we are. The only big positive I can see is that at least the Earth has had a break….some cleaner air, some cleaner water. But at such a cost. Well, this species of ours has had its way for a long time, bumbling along from horror to horror and mighty achievement to mighty achievement.
    So who knows about the long run. Meanwhile, it is good to find you well and having both the access to and ability to make glorious food. Thanks.

  14. Pam Reynolds Says:

    Welcome back, Ara! Randy and I are keeping ourselves busy at home, thinking about and keeping in touch with friends like you.

    Affectionate thoughts,

    Pam “Zelda”

  15. Ara & Spirit Says:

    Hi Judith… Yes, who knows? That is today’s aspect as the ones “that think they know” holding up their banner, their weapons [Seriously?], fear painted on their faces try to push their lack of awareness on others. Just hold on and let us see what scenario awaits for us. History will repeat over and over… and one more time to no end. Hopefully, not outs! stay well. Ara

  16. Ara & Spirit Says:

    Yes, the fortunate aspect of Friends for sure. Here, the Mountains are wide open even if some gates are up and locked. My escape a few times a week… Stay well. Ara

  17. Curvyroads Says:

    I definitely feel this same set of sentiments. We are seeing the best of people, and unfortunately also the worst. You’ve reminded me to focus on only the best, to give my spirit the soothing it needs. Your desert bloom photo is gorgeous, and we were able to see it in person this spring for the first time! The food photos made me hungry, so I will say “be well” for now!

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